Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 11:03:47 -0700
Reply-To: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Giardia
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Many people can have Giardia and be asymptomatic - just existing in a
"carrier state" (isn't that a pleasant thought). It is believed that there
is some immunity that can be developed with prior infection. This would
explain why the incidence of infection is higher in children than adults.
(Giardia is sometimes found in children in day care centers where diapering
is done. The incidence of carriage in day care centers and orphanages in
3rd World countries is purportedly near 100%).
Unlike the usual case of "Turista" (amoebiasis or bacterial such as
cryptosporidiosis or salmonella), it doesn't go away after 24-48 hrs
(bacterial food poisoning is also usually accompanied by fever & elevated WB
cell count). If you have intestinal distress (particularly lower
intestine), bloating, cramping, "the trots", and maybe a touch of nausea
that persist for more than a couple of days, *and no fever or elevated
temperature accompanying it*, giardiasis may be the cause. Lack of fever is
usually my first clue, along with the feeling that there is a critter in my
guts that doesn't seem to be getting "flushed out" after a couple of good
purges. (I'm trying to remain as unspecific as possible here...)
Incubation time is usually 1-2 weeks, but can take as long as 4 weeks. The
symptoms will normally persist for 1-2 weeks, but can sometimes recur on a
chronic basis for much longer. If left untreated, you will either eradicate
the infection naturally, or develop a carrier state.
Since the infection can be caused by a single organism, care must be taken
around unknown water sources. I think I must have picked it up (if that's
what I have now - awaiting test results) from washing plates and eating
utensils in creek water that was not boiled prior to use (trying to preserve
drinking water). Chlorination and other chemical methods are generally NOT
effective against Giardia. Water must be filtered or boiled. (The Giardia
cysts are very tough little buggers, but they are easily destroyed with
heat.)
Treatment is usually Metronidazole (Flagyl), an oral synthetic antiprotozoal
and antibacterial agent used for a variety of abdominal, skin, and
gynecological infections.
There's tons more stuff on the web, if you're interested.
**Disclaimer: I am not a physician, nor do I play one on TV. This
description of Giardia is based on my own research and (unfortunate)
experience. Check with your physician if you believe you may have symptoms
of giardiasis.
Brent Christensen
'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
----- Original Message -----
From: Bulley <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com>
To: 'Brent Christensen' <bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM>;
<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, July 12, 1999 4:13 AM
Subject: RE: Giardia (Was Re: Westy Water Tank Fill)
> Brent-
>
> Keeping in mind that this is a family show, could you save us a search and
> tell us the symptoms/incubation time for Giardia, and things to do
> (hand-washing?) to prevent it while camping?
>
> Thanks-
>
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
> www.bulley-hewlett.com
> Cary, NC USA
> 888.468.4880 tollfree
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brent Christensen [SMTP:bpchristensen@MINDSPRING.COM]
> Sent: Monday, July 12, 1999 5:03 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Giardia (Was Re: Westy Water Tank Fill)
>
> Just a side note about Giardi (which I happen to be suffering from at this
> very moment):
>
> It is very common in the US, though not in municipal water systems.
> Chlorine does not kill it - the cysts can only be removed with filtration
> or
> boiling/heating
> Unlike bacterial or viral infections, it only takes *one* giardia organism
> to cause a full-blown infection
> It is transmitted between humans and animals via fecal contamination (not
> always water-borne - the largest food-borne outbreak was caused by
> macaroni
> salad)
> Some cities in other countries (Leningrad, for example) have major Giardia
> problems with their municipal water.
> It takes 1-2 weeks to develop symptoms, which can then last for 1-4 weeks.
> There are several treatments available, a couple of which are unavailable
> in
> this country because they are classified as mutagen/carcinogens. (nasty
> stuff)
> The surest diagnosis is through a saliva test which checks for the
presence
> of antibodies (as opposed to the "manual" method of checking stool samples
> for the presence of live organisms or cysts)
> It is usually treated empirically - if you describe the symptoms
> accurately,
> the doc will usually write a prescription on the spot rather than wait for
> test results.
> It sucks having giardiasis.
>
> Probably more than anyone wanted to know, but I have had it twice, and it
> is
> no fun.
>
> Brent Christensen
> '89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joe L. <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 1999 11:32 PM
> Subject: Re: Westy Water Tank Fill
>
>
> ---snip----
> > I wouldnt worry too much about things that might be living in the
> water.
> > Nowadays most city water has enough chlorine in it to kill about
> anything.
> > If in doubt what we used to do in the Marine Corps was to put two or
> > three drops of either bleach or iodine in the canteen and wait for half
> an
> > hour before drinking. Didnt taste all that hot but nobody ever got sick
> and
> > we were drinking from some pretty strange places. A canteen holds about
a
> > quart so multiply three drops by however many quarts you are carrying.
> > Unless you are in a REALLY strange place this should do you. There are
> > "water purification tablets" that can be picked up at the sporting goods
> > department of the Wal-Mart but these are *usually* nothing more than
> bleach
> > or iodine in pill form. Some of these tablets claim to be tastless but
> for
> > as much as they would cost purifying a tank of water I would as soon get
> > used to the taste of iodine.
> > There IS some special tablet that contains something (name forgotten)
> > that is supposed to kill a particularly nasty kind of bug (guardia??)
but
> > these are kind of expansive and never having had any problem in either
> the
> > Westy or the Marines I saw no reason to pay the extra cost but if you
are
> > headed someplace wierd you may want to check into it.
>
>
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